Balanced representation, particularly in positions of influence, is extremely important, and balanced gender representation on our boards ensures that we harness the experience, perspectives and talents that everyone has to offer. That helps to guarantee that any decisions that are made are representative and will benefit the wider group.
After stage 1 consideration, through the support of the Scottish Trans Alliance and the Equality Network, an amendment at stage 2 was lodged to amend the definition of women in the bill to include trans women. The amendment was welcomed by the Scottish Government and was agreed to unanimously by the committee. However, following the rulings of the Court of Session in 2022, it was determined that the definition, as added by the stage 2 amendment, was outwith the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament and was not lawful. As such, the definition will be removed, and the bill provides a technical fix to tidy up the statute book following the rulings.
The Scottish Government believes that it is required to do that in the light of the court rulings, but the change does not impact how the 2018 act has worked since the rulings. The bill is a short single-issue bill, and its sole purpose is to amend the statute book in the light of the rulings.
The court rulings were a disappointment to the Scottish Trans Alliance, the Equality Network, me and, I am sure, many others. Although alternative approaches were considered, with some suggested by the Scottish Trans Alliance and the Equality Network, it was determined, unfortunately, that those would not be possible.
It is good that, in general, equality groups agree with the bill, but it is understandable that they are disappointed by the court rulings. Our stage 1 report sums it up by using a quote from the equality impact assessment:
“The trans community may perceive the Bill to have a negative impact on their community, as they could mistakenly view it as a step backwards from their work to achieve equality or a sign that the Scottish Government is changing its position on support for trans rights. However any substantive impact on the operation of the law is as a result of the Court’s decisions, not this Bill which simply clears up confusing wording.”
I am glad that officials are engaging with LGBTQI stakeholders to reassure them of the Scottish Government’s on-going commitment to achieving greater equality.
Overall, the committee is satisfied that the bill provides a technical fix to tidy up the statute book, following the rulings of the Court of Session on 18 February 2022 and 22 March 2022. Accordingly, the committee is content to recommend that the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the bill.
It is vital that women’s voices are heard, especially by public bodies that deliver services in our everyday lives. Fundamentally, the SNP Government is committed to ensuring greater gender equality and fairness for all, and it is vital for our future that all voices are heard and that everyone has a seat at the table.
]]>the minister set out what role Scotland’s universities have in supporting the outdoor learning sector?
]]>We received helpful evidence from a range of expert witnesses and people with lived experience, who provided a considerable amount of information that was extremely helpful in reaching our conclusions.
Tackling child poverty, especially without the full powers to do so, is complex but essential. That is why it is a national mission for the Scottish Government and one that can be achieved only if we tackle all the drivers of poverty. Every sector and Government must be up for that mission. Currently, too many families are locked in to in-work poverty and are unable to progress in the labour market, while others are unable to access the labour market at all due to structural barriers. The committee agrees that we need to ensure that there is good-quality flexible work as a route out of poverty, while targeting support for those who are unable to work.
The Scottish Government’s “Best Start, Bright Futures: Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan 2022-2026” aims to support up to 12,000 parents to access and sustain employment and up to 3,000 in-work parents to increase their earnings. To do that, the Scottish Government proposes investments in employability support, improvements in connectivity and childcare, the promotion of fair work and investment into local and regional economies. To fully achieve that, the committee agrees that the Government must supercharge its efforts and take decisive action now.
The Scottish Government aims to make employability services contribute to reducing poverty and inequality and transform the economy. Alongside COSLA, it is jointly exploring opportunities to scale up employability support for parents. Of course, employability services need resources to deliver interventions throughout people’s journeys, so we need to know how those services will be scaled up, particularly after the funding for the support that is offered by fair start Scotland ends in April.
There are many recommendations in the committee’s report and I cannot cover them all in the time that I have available, so I will highlight a further three issues. Not being able to access childcare is a common barrier to employment, which mostly affects women. There is also a particular issue with accessing childcare for children who have additional support needs. Children’s Hospices Across Scotland—CHAS—gave the following example to the committee:
“Just the other day, I was talking to a parent who had in place a very significant package of support but was simply unable to recruit the staff that she needed to support the child, so she is giving up work in order to be the sole carer for her child.”—[
Official Report, Social Justice and Social Security Committee
, 8 June 2023; c 15.]
That is why, as a committee, we want to see a detailed assessment of the availability of the current childcare workforce across the sector, including those with skills for children who have additional support needs.
The social security system acting as a barrier to getting into or staying in employment is another significant issue. The universal credit conditionality regime does nothing to support people into work and often causes misery and hardship instead. Marion Davis of One Parent Families Scotland, when illustrating the significant impact on lone parents, told us:
“we end up having to take them to food banks because they have had their benefits cut. That has a huge impact on employability and adds to the crisis that families face, which prevents them from moving on and achieving what they want to achieve.”
Philip Whyte of the Institute for Public Policy Research Scotland, in evidence to us regarding conditionality, said:
“we have collected a lot of UK-wide evidence ... that suggests that the regime is still incredibly punitive rather than supportive. That ratchets up underemployment, because people are quite often directed to, and take, low-quality jobs.”—[
Official Report
,
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
, 15 June 2023; c 37.]
It is clear that that approach does not set work on a strong track to help to reduce poverty. Instead, work must pay, and it must be flexible. Providing jobs that pay a fair wage and are family friendly, with flexibility in order to meet parents’ needs, is central to tackling child poverty through employment.
In that area, we are also hindered by our lack of control over employment law. Encouragement can only secure so much. That is why, on behalf of the STUC, Andrea Bradley told us:
“From an STUC point of view, we want to see Scotland in control of the levers that will have the greatest impact on the pay, conditions and working lives of people in Scotland. For that reason, we want to see the devolution of employment law to Scotland.”—[
Official Report, Social Justice and Social Security Committee
, 22 June 2023; c 32.]
Until we secure the necessary employment powers, I welcome the approach that has been taken by the fair work first policy. We must use that approach to maximise and secure what working people deserve. To that end, I welcome the fact that we are looking at the procurement and tendering process as a way to secure decent terms and conditions.
The aim of tackling child poverty through parental employment is so important to get right. By helping parents to access secure, stable and flexible employment, we can offer a sustainable route out of poverty for many families. As we know, every child should live happy and healthy lives and be able to reach their full potential. Let us push forward on that and prioritise the policies that really tackle child poverty.
]]>having on keeping children in Scotland out of poverty? Does she share my concerns about the Westminster Government’s two-child policy undermining our efforts? Will she be clear that the two-child policy and its abhorrent rape clause will never be considered for the Scottish child payment?
]]>We are all aware of the tragic events of 14 June 2017. A high-rise fire broke out in the 24-storey Grenfell tower block in North Kensington in London. Seventy-two people died and more than 70 were injured, and more than 220 escaped but were traumatised. The fire was started by an electrical fault in a refrigerator on the fourth floor and it spread rapidly up the building’s exterior, accelerated by the dangerously combustible aluminium composite cladding in external insulation.
Grenfell tower stands as a symbol of symptomatic failures and social injustices. It represents the neglect of marginalised communities, a disregard for basic safety standards and the prioritisation of profit over human life. Every person there had a life, loves, hopes and dreams, and aspirations. Their memories serve as a reminder that this cannot be allowed to happen again.
In the light of the tragedy, it has been concluded that extensive work is required in Scotland to ensure that a similar event does not happen here. The Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Bill must make housing in Scotland safer. The committee worked on a cross-party basis to secure a report that will be helpful in identifying how the bill can be improved at later stages of the process, and how engagement must happen with those who are living in affected buildings.
We made recommendations on a range of issues that need addressed and clarified. Very recently, the minister provided a detailed reply to our recommendations, and the committee will study that in detail. On the face of it, the response recognises that the issues that we highlight have considerable merit, and I welcome the minister’s commitment to work those through and engage with many stakeholders as the bill progresses.
The bill will ensure that Scottish ministers can assess, and take action on, certain buildings with unsafe cladding. It will also allow the Scottish Government to create and maintain a cladding assurance register in order to give residents confidence about the assessment and works undertaken once the buildings are remediated. The Scottish Government must ensure that the timing of a building’s entry on to the cladding assurance register should not delay resolution of the issues that are faced by owners and residents. The bill will also present an opportunity for the future creation of a responsible developer scheme, which would recognise those developers who are doing the right thing and protect the reputation of responsible operators.
However, it is noted that it may not be financially viable for all developers to finance remediation, and there are concerns about the potential impact of a responsible developer scheme on SMEs. We want the Scottish Government, therefore, to fully engage with those issues ahead of stage 2, by assessing the risk.
We are determined to safeguard people who are living in buildings with potentially unsafe cladding, and the bill has been introduced quickly to ensure that any safety hazards are dealt with swiftly. By proactively addressing the issue, we can help to restore trust and confidence in our housing stock for residents. To that end, it is important that the Scottish Government ensures that it communicates effectively with residents and owners so that they have confidence in the process and an indication of when the remediation programme might be completed.
I would welcome a commitment from the Scottish Government to report regularly on the progress of the remediation programme, to ensure that the bill has resulted in acceleration of the process.
The Grenfell tragedy caused a lot of anger, upset and, ultimately, fear among people living in tower blocks. The bill demonstrates the Scottish Government’s commitment to the wellbeing of our residents, and I hope that, with its issues clarified, the bill can reassure them that their voices are being heard and that their safety is paramount. Every individual has the right to feel safe and secure in their home, and the bill must be a step further in helping our citizens to feel protected.
We therefore support the broad principles of the bill, but there is much to be improved and clarified before stage 2. It is essential that the Scottish Government responds positively to all the recommendations in the committee report. That would send a strong message that the safety and wellbeing of Scottish citizens are a clear priority for the Scottish Parliament.
]]>I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate on international women’s day. The theme this year is “Inspire Inclusion”, which recognises that, when people understand and value women’s inclusion, they forge a better world.
Standing in this Parliament, I feel proud to recognise that our Scottish Cabinet is a testament to that, with more women than men in the top roles. It shows our young women that reaching the top positions in politics can be an achievable goal. That is something that we should never give up on. It is something to protect and should be the norm. Studies show that that also makes us truly better off. States where women hold more political power are less likely to go to war or to be weak on human rights. That is significant and highlights the practical importance of having women in positions of power.
Of course, much more must be done on representation. According to Engender’s report “Sex & Power in Scotland 2023”, women account for only 27 per cent of council leaders, 26 per cent of university principals and 7 per cent of chief executive officers of Scotland’s top businesses. Although the report notes improvements in some areas, such as political institutions and the health sector, the figures show that women are still missing from key roles. When the burdens of childcare, household labour and care for relatives still rest firmly on women’s shoulders, it can feel more difficult for women to progress. That is not how it should be, but studies have found that women undertake three times more of the world’s care and domestic work than men. That is why it is so important to celebrate how far the Scottish Government has gone to alleviate some of that burden and to ensure that women here are not forced out of their jobs or of public life.
The Poverty Alliance correctly asserts that women’s poverty is completely interlinked with child poverty. That is why the Scottish child payment is so important and welcome, along with the expansion of free childcare, which has made 1,140 hours a year available to all three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds. The introduction of carers allowance supplement corrected a wrong that was created and maintained by successive Westminster Governments, and other measures that ensure that women are treated as equals include the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021, which, following collaborative work, enshrined free access to period products in law. Although more can be done, those measures are significant and they make an impact on women’s lives.
When we reflect on international women’s day, it is important that we look more widely and take a global perspective rather than focusing only on our country, and doing so highlights the discrepancies in women’s equality and inclusion in public life across different countries. There is no escaping the fact that conflict always has a gendered nature. In the second year of the invasion of Ukraine, that is very clear. Women are giving birth in basements and in high-stress conditions, and men were forced to remain behind while women and children migrated out of Ukraine to neighbouring countries. In Gaza, women and children are expected to be hardest hit as women tend to vastly deprioritise their food intake when access to food is restricted and they face even higher health and malnutrition risks, not only for themselves but for their babies. Overcrowding and a lack of privacy in temporary shelters, coupled with scarce resources, can lead to disputes and violence, including gender-based violence. The lack of access to adequate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities for menstruation hygiene management affects women’s and girls’ dignity as well as their mental and physical health.
That is why the Scottish Government’s investment in women as advocates for human rights and initiatives such as the warm Scots future, the women in conflict 1325 fellowship, the human rights defender fellowship and the commitment to the feminist approach to international relationships are so important in the long term, as the minister mentioned.
International women’s day is also a time to recognise the work of local groups in our community and to thank them for everything that they do to support women. My sincere and eternal thanks go to Clydebank Women’s Aid and East Dunbartonshire Women’s Aid, which provide support, information and refuge to women. They are quite literally lifelines to many women out there.
Today also serves as a call to action for our leaders to redouble their efforts to create a world where women are included. We must work to dismantle systems that hold women back. Importantly, we must take an intersectional approach when we consider women’s inclusion to ensure that women of colour, disabled women, refugee women, women of minority faith communities, LGBTI women, older and younger women, women from deprived areas and women from other minority groups are deeply involved in their communities and feel included.
I welcome all the contributions to today’s debate. Let us collectively forge a more inclusive world for the women out there.
]]>currently receives real-hair wigs but, given the advancements in acrylic wigs, she would like to try one of those instead. She has advised me that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has said that, if she makes that decision, she would not be able to move back to a real-hair wig prescription should she wish to do so. That seems a bit harsh. Can the minister confirm whether there are any plans to review that approach to allow more flexibility in moving between the two wig prescriptions?
]]>e need an immediate ceasefire and an end to the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.
As a forward-thinking and compassionate nation, we cannot stand by while an obvious genocide happens. The killing of innocent civilians and the brutal slaughter of children must end. The civilian death toll—which stands at around 30,000 people in Gaza, more than 1,000 people in Israel, and more than 300 in the West Bank—is rising daily. The only way to end the suffering is an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages and those who have been detained without charge. The relentless suffering that is being faced by the people of Gaza has been weighing on the hearts and minds of so many across the country.
Two days ago, Andrew Gilmour, the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights from 2016 to 2019, said:
“Israel’s onslaught against Gaza is probably the highest kill rate of any military killing anywhere since the Rwandan genocide in 1994.”
I have joined thousands on the streets to protest and call for an immediate ceasefire, an end to collective punishment and an end to illegal occupation. I am glad to see that, since that, and with the pressure from the Scottish National Party, the new Labour Party has backed calls for a ceasefire—at least of a sort. External pressure does more for Labour at the moment than what is enshrined in its internal principles.
The Tories and the Labour Party made a devastating mistake by opposing a ceasefire in November. Lives have been lost and the death toll has since risen enormously. Their failure to back calls for a ceasefire earlier will be remembered in the history books with their names on it. Yesterday in Westminster, new Labour’s position was appalling. The new Labour cabal came together to deny a motion that called for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the collective punishment of Palestinian people.
“Newsnight” journalist Nicholas Watt said that the House of Commons speaker was left in “no doubt” that new Labour would “bring him down” after the general election unless he allowed a weak new Labour amendment on Gaza. The new Labour junior deputy speaker, Rosie Winterton, was then deployed to defend the indefensible. Like most Labour stitch-ups, it ended in disaster and humiliation, but it was still cheered on by some lapsed Corbynistas in the Parliament who want to be chummed with the arms industry that provides weapons to Israel.
Most of us have never experienced anything close to the level of horror in Gaza, so comments from Dr Salim Ghayyda have stuck with me. Dr Ghayyda grew up in Gaza and he has family there. He now works as a consultant paediatrician in Inverness.
When discussing his family, he said;
“The stories of immense suffering I hear from them every day. Every part of their life turns into an astonishing amount of suffering. There is nothing in their life that you could consider a life, actually. Water is contaminated and they eat one meal a day. The number of children killed is around 12,000 to 14,000. Do you know how many children there are in Inverness? 14,000. Imagine we, the Scottish people, wake up one day and all the children in Inverness have been killed. This is what happened to the children in Gaza. Stop. Enough is enough. Stop this genocide, please.”
Those comments are terrifying. This perpetual cycle of violence has been going on for far too long. We either call for the killing to end or we sit by and let the death total escalate. History will judge us all on that. We need an immediate ceasefire and an end to the collective punishment.
]]>We should also consider a minimum income guarantee to ensure that everyone in Scotland secures a minimum acceptable standard of living, thereby giving families enough money for housing, food and essentials, so that they can live a dignified, healthy and financially secure life.
With one hand tied behind our back, we are already making significant progress with the social security system by delivering 14 benefits, seven of which, including the Scottish child payment, are available only in Scotland and tackle poverty and reduce inequality. In the end, social security is a human right.
The Westminster Government continues to strip residents of their human rights, but an independent Scotland would have human rights at the core of its policy decisions. That is not something that Labour or the Tories see as a priority. We heard that loud and clear when they refused to scrap the benefit cap but would not cap bankers’ bonuses.
People deserve to be treated with dignity, so a Scottish social security system would be designed with the people of Scotland on the basis of evidence. Social security is an investment in the people of Scotland. With independence, we will deliver a social security system that will transform lives.
]]>For too long, people in my constituency and across Scotland have been penalised by the Westminster Government, which does not value people who are living in poverty or who are on low incomes. The austerity policies of 2010, which were put in place by our Tory and Lib Dem colleagues, have led to severe suffering in the Scottish community, particularly among people who are on low incomes. They have been described by economists and economic historians as “disastrous” and “reckless”.
We will not forget how silent Labour in Opposition was when that was happening. Those reckless policies have resulted in the Scottish Government spending a large proportion of its budget on counteracting the damaging policies that affect the Scottish people.
]]>Today’s debate is important and necessary because the two political parties that aspire to govern at Westminster have failed Scotland. While in office, they have presided over a welfare system that is big on stigma but devoid of compassion. We have seen that in how, for decades, they treated unpaid carers with contempt by not aligning carers allowance with other earnings-replacement benefits—an injustice that was put right by the SNP Government.
We have seen so many other examples: entitlements of 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds being erased; private sector assessments that have caused so much pain and suffering; the young person’s penalty, which means less entitlement for under-25s; an obsession with a sanctions regime that entrenches stigma and promotes poverty; the benefit cap that denies families with children basic levels of subsistence; the bedroom tax that erodes support for paying rent and risks homelessness; and industrial injuries benefits being left unreformed for decades, so that women who are injured in the workplace are denied compensation.
We also see the Westminster Government’s future plans for a controlled Westminster social security system, its refusal to commit to scrapping the two-child policy with its abhorrent rape clause, and its proposed changes to work capability assessments that target many people who are sick and disabled. The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates that hundreds of thousands of people could be impacted, potentially losing more than £4,000 per year.
There is no essentials guarantee that would see universal credit being set at a decent amount that would allow families to afford the basics. There is no vision that sees social security as an investment in helping our country to thrive.
Scotland needs real change, which will be secured only with independence. With the Tories or Labour, we will have continuation of a system that sets people up to fail and does not help them to thrive. It is no wonder that the United Nations special rapporteur on extreme poverty condemned the Westminster Government’s shameful record on poverty, saying that the UK’s “grossly insufficient” welfare system is simply not acceptable and might be in violation of international law.
]]>That is in stark contrast to the Westminster system, which has a punitive approach at its heart. It promotes stigma and drives down living standards to the lowest levels since records began, with a sanctions regime that stigmatises and denies basic subsistence. It ignores the evidence of experts such as Dr David Webster of the University of Glasgow, who believes that
“The workhouse aside, there’s never been a social security programme that delivered as much pain for so little gain”.
Yet, that system has been supported by the two main Westminster parties, Labour and the Tories, as has use of private sector medical assessments, which have caused much misery and harm.
A humane system needs to take a different approach. The Scottish Government has taken that path with our social security system by delivering 14 benefits that tackle poverty and reduce inequality—seven of which, including the Scottish child payment, are available only in Scotland—and, which is most important, an overall system that treats people with dignity, fairness and respect.
That record investment demonstrates the Scottish Government’s choices in particularly challenging times. With increased food, energy and general living costs, we are trying to reach the people who need it most. That is delivering real and meaningful change, through Social Security Scotland.
In the recent London School of Economics and Political Science blog post entitled “What Scotland’s policies can teach Westminster about fighting poverty”, academics from the University of York wrote:
“The devolution of some social security powers has meant that Scotland has been able to forge a different path, introducing potentially transformative policy reforms which mean families with children living north of the border face a more hopeful future than their counterparts elsewhere in the UK.”
When discussing the Scottish child payment, the blog states:
“Oxford University’s Danny Dorling has predicted that the increased and extended payments will transform Scotland from being one of the most unequal places to live in Europe to being one of the most equal. In short: it’s a big deal.”
Those academics are right. It is a big deal and we will do more, but we are hindered in that endeavour by the need to mitigate Westminster welfare cuts. For instance, £90 million has been made available for discretionary housing payments, including payments to fully mitigate the bedroom tax, which will help more than 92,000 households in Scotland to sustain their tenancies. More than 50 per cent of Scottish households that are in receipt of universal credit housing element have rents that exceed the local housing allowance that has been set by Westminster, so discretionary housing payments are in many cases necessary to help to cover the rent.
The benefit cap has also been mitigated as fully as possible to support more than 2,700 families, which include more than 9,400 children. The cap denies children the support that they need, but the Tories persevere with it. Shamefully, Labour is silent on the cap that plunges families into poverty, but is all chatty about the cap on bankers’ bonuses. Labour is happy to see the cap on bankers’ bonuses lifted, but will not commit to lifting the cap on benefits or to scrapping the two-child policy and its abhorrent rape clause. That is disgusting.
We are also righting wrongs that the Tories and Labour refuse to fix. One example is the raw deal that both parties have given unpaid carers when in government. Since 1976, when the carers allowance was introduced as invalid care allowance, successive UK Governments have refused to align the amount that is paid with other earnings-replacement benefits. It has taken the SNP Government to change that, with the carers allowance supplement.
We are making further improvements, in contrast with the neglect from Westminster. The recent proposed changes to work capability assessments show that that neglect will continue. The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates that hundreds of thousands of people could be impacted and will lose more than £4,000 per year. Unfortunately, that shows that the cruel UK Government austerity measures are continuing at pace.
We need to end that Westminster approach, which lacks humanity and compassion. Real change will come only with independence and full control over social security. Then, we could remove the two-child limit and scrap the rape clause, remove the benefit cap and bedroom tax and end the benefit sanctions regime and the young parent penalty. We could provide more support for people who are starting work, such as up-front childcare and travel costs.
The Scottish Government will continue to invest in social security, providing help when needed and investing in our citizens. With independence, we will do even more.
]]>here are clearly pressures on all aspects of the Scottish Government, including the Scottish Funding Council. In light of those financial challenges, will the minister commit to continuing the Scottish Government’s prioritisation of the widening access agenda?
]]>Having a visitor levy is not a new idea; levies are widely used across Europe and around the world. As of 2023, 21 of the 27 EU member states charged occupancy taxes. Some cities and regions use the levy as a way to increase their general reserves, while others ring fence all or part of that revenue to fund specific projects. It is quite reasonable, and not uncommon, for local authorities to want a small contribution from tourists to support and sustain their visitor economies.
Scotland has breathtaking landscapes and a rich cultural heritage, so it is not surprising that our country has become a magnet for tourists from around the world. Tourism is an important part of our economy, supporting more than 200,000 jobs and bringing £4.5 billion into the Scottish economy each year.
That is why members of the committee recognise that a visitor levy must be done properly. The committee recognised the concerns that have been expressed by local businesses and other stakeholders, but, overall, the levy has the potential to bring significant benefits to visitors, the tourism sector and local residents alike. It has the potential to create funds that can be reinvested in maintaining tourist attractions, in preserving the environment, in supporting local businesses and in improving public facilities.
The levy could also create a more symbiotic relationship between visitors and local communities. When we visit a new country, we all have the responsibility to respect its landmarks, cultures and environments. The levy would ensure that tourists themselves would become active participants in the preservation of Scotland’s unique spaces and communities.
Although some people are concerned that a levy might have a negative impact on visitor numbers, introducing one at a modest rate in some local authorities would not be likely to have a significantly detrimental effect on visitor numbers, given the unique nature of Scotland as a destination and the experiences of other jurisdictions where a levy has been introduced. In fact, a levy could bolster the tourism industry because funds could be reinvested in local facilities and services, thereby helping to attract more visitors. A levy should be welcomed, because spending would benefit both locals and visitors and it would provide ambitious strategic long-term investment.
Our committee believes that decisions on spend should be taken at the local level. Flexibility to allow local authorities to prioritise their spending is a key aspect of the bill and is in keeping with the principles that are set out in the Verity house agreement. The bill would ensure that local authorities could decide whether to introduce the levy and, if so, to implement it in a way that would work for their local circumstances. The bill, therefore, plays a key part in the Scottish Government’s wider aim of giving councils greater financial flexibility and strengthening local democracy.
The committee understands that some people have concerns about possible complexities that could arise from that approach, but I and most members of the committee feel that local authorities are best placed to design approaches that will best suit the needs of their local communities.
Due to Covid-19 and increased costs, the past couple of years have been a real challenge for the hospitality industry, so I have every sympathy with hospitality and other businesses. A levy would not come into effect until early 2026. The committee is mindful of the concerns about possible administrative burdens, so we welcomed the constructive engagement on the matter. At its core, the committee valued the importance of meaningful consultation with the tourism and accommodation sector to create a genuine sense of partnership working—for example, through the expert group—so we have loads to do for stage 2. That will help to alleviate the concerns of many people in the sector and will demonstrate the potential long-term benefits of a levy.
It is important that we recognise that a visitor levy is not simply a tax, but is an investment in the future of Scotland. It will position Scotland as a sensible forward-thinking destination that values its cultural heritage, environment and local residents. Those values are appealing to tourists as well, as more people become conscious global travellers and take a real interest in the countries that they visit. We should embrace this opportunity as a chance to ensure that our country has a vibrant and sustainable future and to create a Scotland that generations to come will want to visit.
]]>I have met numerous arts and culture groups in my constituency. Those groups are so important because they not only create safe spaces in which creatives can thrive, but allow for development of meaningful connections that can reduce the social isolation that people face in our constituencies.
What approach is the Scottish Government taking to ensure that additional investment will be shared fairly across all communities?
]]>In the West Dunbartonshire part of my constituency, 241 Ukrainians have settled, including 209 in council-owned homes. The local council is developing proposals to make another 60 properties available for Ukrainians in 2024.
The Scottish Government has made it clear that it is following a different path from the one that the UK Government follows when it comes to refugees—one that treats them with compassion, kindness and dignity. Those are the values of many Scots across our country, and it has been truly heartwarming to witness communities across Scotland welcoming Ukrainians with open arms.
In my home town of Clydebank, I have witnessed that welcome with my own eyes. Ukrainian refugees have not just been welcomed; they have been treated as equals and shown that they have a future in our community. Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels’ community hub and Chatty Cafe, which are run by Maureen Cummings and her amazing team, are a great example of that.
In 2022, Maureen and her team decided to make up a food parcel for a young Ukrainian family living in a hotel in West Dunbartonshire. Although that was welcome, the family had no appliances to cook meals in the hotel and were desperate to make a home-cooked meal, so the Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels team put together a list of the ingredients that were needed to make a traditional Ukrainian meal, sourced the food and then opened its Chatty Cafe kitchen to the family to cook.
Since that time, the team have held Ukrainian family days, which are growing every month—I have seen more than 30 parents and children from Ukraine get together for food, fun and a chance to bond with people from back home. The mother of that young family has even volunteered in the food bank and helped to translate for Ukrainian families to make sure that they receive food, too.
On mothers’ day this year, the team held a special event for Ukrainian families to come together, share food and gifts, chat and have a sing-song and get other people to learn Ukrainian songs. It was a great day. Many of those people will be missing their own mothers this year, so it was a lovely and special moment.
The Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels team has gone above and beyond to make sure that Ukrainians in the community feel not just welcomed, but a real part of the community. The team has made it clear to the community that refugees will be welcomed in Clydebank and will be shown that they have a future there. They are an equal part of our community. I will always be truly in awe of the team, so my sincere thanks go to Maureen and all the amazing staff and volunteers. Their selflessness is unmatched. The Old Kilpatrick Food Parcels team is just one example from many, but it shows how local communities have come together to support people in need.
The Scottish Government’s new strategy will build on the initial kindness and compassion that has been shown by residents and will work to ensure that Ukrainian residents can settle in the community in long-term accommodation. Scotland acted swiftly at a time of illegal invasion of Ukraine, so it is only right that we lead the way in giving Ukrainian people a positive future here. With a strong community spirit and Scottish Government funding, our local Ukrainian residents will be able to thrive and have a bright future in Scotland. That is the way it should be: a compassionate Scotland that is there for everyone.
]]>